Undercrown Sun Grown Gran Toro Review

It is rated Medium-Full (4/5), which means it will not knock a seasoned smoker off their chair, but it has enough nicotine presence to satisfy after a meal. The strength builds gradually — the first third is solidly medium, and the final third concentrates toward medium-full with espresso and toasted oak notes. If you are sensitive to nicotine, eat first and take your time.

The first third delivers roasted almonds, dry cedar, and a tangy citrus zest from the sun grown wrapper, with a light creaminess underneath. The second third deepens into bittersweet cocoa, seasoned leather, and grassy Habano spice, with dried apricot and mild black pepper on the retrohale. The final third brings espresso, toasted oak, and a dark fruit sweetness reminiscent of raisin or dried cherry, finishing with warm earthiness.

Expect roughly 90 minutes for a leisurely session. The Gran Toro is 6 x 52, which is a substantial vitola — not a quick lunch break smoke. If you puff faster, you can finish in 70–75 minutes, but the blend rewards a slower pace that lets the citrus and cedar notes develop without overheating.

A lightly aged rum such as Flor de Caña 7-Year or a medium-grain Scotch like Monkey Shoulder works beautifully — the cigar's fruit and spice notes harmonize without competing with heavily peated or overly sweet spirits. For wine, a Grenache-based Côtes du Rhône or Spanish Garnacha mirrors the red fruit, moderate tannins, and earthy minerality. Non-alcoholic? A medium-roast single-origin Colombian pour-over or light-bodied cold brew complements the wrapper's citrus and cedar character.

It is best suited for intermediate smokers rather than absolute beginners. The Medium-Full strength (4/5) and the sun grown wrapper's tangy, spicy character can be a lot for someone who has only smoked mild Connecticuts. That said, the construction is forgiving — open draw, even burn — and the $9–$12 price point makes it a low-risk step up for a beginner ready to explore more flavorful cigars.

Look for it at reputable brick-and-mortar tobacconists, online premium cigar retailers, and Drew Estate authorized dealers. It is a regular production cigar sold in 25-count boxes, so it is widely available. If your local shop does not stock it, ask them to order it — most Drew Estate accounts can get it without issue.

Expect to pay $9–$12 per cigar, depending on your state's tobacco taxes and the retailer's markup. Boxes of 25 typically run $225–$300. At that price, it competes with cigars costing nearly twice as much, which is why it has become a staple for smokers who want quality without the premium markup.

It is already aged — the Nicaraguan fillers rest a minimum of three years before rolling, and the finished cigars are rested again before release. That said, the Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano wrapper will continue to mellow and marry with the filler over another 6–12 months, softening the citrus zest and deepening the cocoa and dried fruit notes. If you have space, buy a box and revisit it in a year; if not, it smokes beautifully now.

It uses an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano wrapper in a Colorado shade — medium brown, silky with a subtle toothy texture and light oil. That wrapper is the defining feature of the blend: it delivers the tangy citrus zest, grassy spice, and dried apricot notes that distinguish this from the original Undercrown's darker, binder-forward profile.

It is hand-rolled at TABSA in Estelí, Nicaragua — the Drew Estate factory known for producing Liga Privada and other high-end Drew Estate lines. The Nicaraguan longfiller comes from the Jalapa, Estelí, and Condega regions, and the cigars are rolled by Drew Estate artisans before being rested and released.